STEP 1
Early elementary: build language
Look at pictures, ask who/what/why questions, and let your child tell the story in any language. Practice letter-sound connections and read aloud together when appropriate.
FAMILY LEARNING GUIDE · GUÍA PARA FAMILIAS
Support Learning at Home
Practical steps.
Practical learning strategies from elementary through high school.
Choose a topic
STEP 2
Upper elementary: read for meaning
After each paragraph ask for a one-sentence summary. Find one supporting detail and explain a new vocabulary word with an example. Use both fiction and nonfiction.
STEP 3
Middle school: manage work independently
Review the grade portal once a week, prioritize missing work, and break long assignments into smaller stages. Ask your student to teach you the main idea even if you don’t know the subject.
STEP 4
High school: plan ahead
Review graduation requirements, credits, attendance, career and college options, and upcoming deadlines with a counselor. Ask for a translated explanation or interpreter when needed.
STEP 5
When a child needs extra help
Describe the difficulty with concrete examples, ask about assessments or interventions, and agree on a date to check progress. School difficulties may have more than one cause.
Trusted resources · Recursos confiables
Reading Rockets: families and reading →
Colorín Colorado: multilingual families →